Expansion joint unit and method of installing the same



Jan. 15, 1963 F. E. ALDERMAN ETAL EXPANSION JOINT UNIT AND METHOD OF INSTALLING THE SAME Filed Jan. 20, 1958 INVENTORS. E44 1514.4 DEE/149M MIA/IN, 0 M/m/fl/m J76. q a wa'w flrrazwzM This invention relates to expansion joints between the structural members of buildings and similar constructions.

It is essential in certain building construction, for example, in a concrete reservoir having a roof structure supported on the surrounding wall of the reservoir and in similar constructions, to compensate for expansion and contraction as well as seismic loads by providing an ex pansion joint arrangement between the wall and the roof structure.

It is one of the objects of this invention to provide a novel resilient insert unit which when installed in expansion joints of structural members will compensate for expansion, contraction and seismic loads in a particularly efiicient manner to prevent cracking or damage of the structural members or undesirable derangement thereof.

vIt is another object of this invention to provide a resilient compressible expansion unit such as described which is constructed so that it may be readily and easily inserted into the desired position in an expansion joint and as readily removed for replacement thereof when such replacement becomes desirable.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel method of installing a resilient insert unit at an expansion joint of structural members.

A further object of this invention is to provide a method of installin a resilient expansion unit at a joint of structural elements by applying to opposite sides of such a unit, a force elfective to compress the unit, then inserting the compressed unit into the joint so that sides thereof are opposed to surfaces of the structural members; and finally removing the compressing force to perrnit the unit to expand and urge sides of the unit into engagement with surfaces of the structural members opposed thereto.

It is another object to provide a method such as described which includes the step of positioning the insert unit so that the resilient and compressible portion thereof is subject to compression and distortion as well as expansion as required under seismic and contraction expansion loads while maintaining opposite sides of the ,unit in effective engagement with opposed surfaces of the structural members at the joint.

It is another object to provide a novel method such as described which readily may be carried out with the aid of a force-applying means that is detachably connected with the resilient expansion unit and operated to cornpress the unit to position it in the joint and then release it for expansion into the desired position in the joint.

Another object of the invention is to provide an expansion joint insert unit such as described which is provided with novel and simply constructed means making it possible to detachably connect force-applying means thereto whereby the unit may be compressed and then positioned by the force-applying means in the joint. After this positioning of the unit, the force-applying means is operated to relieve the pressure on the unit whereby the unit will expand against the structural members at the joint and the force-applying means may then be removed from the expanded unit. If it is desired to remove a unit from the joint, the force applying means may be employed to again compress the unit to readily effect such removal and likewise employed to insert a new unit in place of the one removed.

ias'z'asss Patented Jan. 15, 1953 An additional object is to provide an expansion joint insert such as described which includes a block-like body of resilient compressible material and rigid members mounted on opposite sides thereof, the rigid members being adapted to be forced toward one another to compress the body whereby the unit may be inserted into the expansion joint. The removal of the compressing force permits the body to expand and force the plates into abutting relation to thesurfaces of structural members at the joint of the latter.

Another object hereof is the provision of an expansion joint unit such as described wherein the resilient, compressible body is provided on opposite sides with rigid plates having sockets arranged in a novel manner to detachably receive therein a force-applying means for urging the plates toward one another to compress the body.

An additional object is the provision of an expansion joint insert unit such as described wherein the resilient compressible body of the unit has a pair of rigid plates bonded to opposite sides thereof. Each of these plates includes inner and outer plate sections joined in spaced parallel relation by means of web portions welded thereto and arranged so that jaws of a force-applying tool may be inserted between the plate sections and operated to move the plates toward one another for compressing the resilient body.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a resilient insert unit such as described which is constructed and arranged so that with the aid of a spacing element, the exposed portions of the resilient compressible body are disposed in the joint for unobstructed deformation such as may be effected during compression of the body under the forces to which the unit is subjected.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a re silient compressible insert unit such as described which when applied at a joint between structures capable of relative movement as a result of thermal effects and seismic forces, will effectively restrain sudden free movement of the structures that if not restrained would develop damaging impact forces.

This invention possesses many other advantages and has other objects which may be made more easily appar ent from a consideration of the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. This form will now be described in detailed, illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that this de tailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claim.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an expansion joint unit embodying the present'invention;

FIG. 2 is a verticalsectional View taken through a forceapplying tool and one of the expansion units, also through a typical expansion joint of a wall and a roof structure, showing how the tool is employed to compress the unit for insertion into the joint;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of a typical finished expansion joint embodying an expansion jointunit of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of P16. 2; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 5-S of FIG. 2 showing one of the bifurcated jaws of the tool in elevation and as it would appear in position between the inner and outer plate sections, the webs between the plate sections being shown in section.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided as shown in FIG. 1, a resilient compressible expansion unit 1 adapted to be mounted in an expansion joint, for example,

the joint shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The joint here shown is typical of joints in concrete building construction, particularly concrete reservoirs having a surrounding wall 2 and a roof structure 3 supported thereon. The wall 2 and roof 3 are constructed so that they provide a gap 4 therebetween. The wall 2 provides one side wall 5 and a bottom wall 6 of the gap 4 while the roof 3 provides the other side wall 7 of the gap. In practice, a number of the expansion joint units 1 would be inserted at regularly spaced intervals in the gap 4.

The wall 2 is provided with a ledge 8 below the gap 4 for supporting the roof 3, there being a space indicated at 9 between the wall and the roof to accommodate expansion, contraction and seismic loads to which the joint may be subjected.

The unit 1 comprises a block-like body 10 of resilient compressible material such as rubber or the like. In this instance, the body 10 is rectangular and provided on opposite sides with rigid facing members 11 in the form of plates preferably bonded to the body. The body 10 with the plates thereon, in other words the unit 1, is dimensioned so that it has greater width and less depth than the gap 4 in the expansion joint, the resilient body being normally fully expanded. These dimensions of the unit are provided in order that the unit may be compressed and inserted into the gap 4 while compressed, then permitted to expand into intimate contact with the roof 3 and the wall 2, with provision however for further distortion of the exposed top, bottom and ends of the body as may be required to compensate for contraction, expansion and seismic loads. Depending upon temperature-effected changes in the size of the gap 4 at the time the units are placed in the joint, suitable shims, not shown, may be inserted between the unit and the wall 2 or roof 3 or both, to assure proper positioning of the unit as well as to assure intended response thereof to expansion, contraction and seismic loads.

The side wall 5 and bottom wall 6 of the gap 4, as provided on the reservoir wall 2, may be lined with metal facing strips 13. and 14 respectively. The other side wall 7 of the gap as provided on the roof 3, may be similarly lined with a metal facing strip 15. When the unit is in place, as shown in FIG. 3, facing members or plates 11 will be forced by stored energy in the resilient, compressed body 19, into intimate contact with the facing strips 13 and 15 on the side walls 5 and '7 of the gap 4.

It is desired to space each inserted unit 1 above the strip 14 on the bottom wall 7 of the gap 4 so that exposed portions of the resilient body 10 are free for such further distortion as may be required in compensation for seismic and other loads imposed thereon. Accordingly, spacing means provided and as here shown, is in the form of a spacer strip 16 of suitable material positioned in the gap 4 next to the reservoir wall 2. The plate member 11 next to the wall 2 will rest upon the spacer and strip 16 to space the unit 1, that is the body 10, above the bottom wall of the gap 4. p

As shown in FIG. 3, suitable flashing 35 may be applied to cover the joint, this flashing being bowed upwardly between its ends to provide ample space for distortion of the upper side of the resilient body 10.

The side members or facing plates 11 on the body It embody means whereby a force-applying means such for example, as the tool 17 here shown, may be employed to compress the body 1 for insertion of the unit 1 into the gap 4, it being desired that this means provide for quick application and removal of the tool. Accordingly, each of the plates 11 is formed of a pair of plate sections 18 joined in spaced parallel relation to each other by means of webs 19 welded between the sections. The webs' are located so that a pair of through openings or sockets 20 is provided between the plate sections of each of the plate members 11. The inner plate sections 18, as here shown, are bonded to the body 10.

It is to be understood that any suitable means may be employed for compressing and releasing the unit 1. The tool 17 here shown has been found to be satisfactory for this purpose. Accordingly, the tool 17 includes a pair of plate-like jaws 2'2 and 23, the lower ends of which are provided as shown in FIG. 5, with slots 24 adapted to receive one of the webs 19 when the jaws are positioned in the sockets 2% in the plates 11. The jaws 22 and 23 are joined by means of a lazy-tong arrangement of links 26 as shown in FIG. 2 arranged to unformly effect movement of both jaws, whereby the unitwill be evenly compressed. The tool also includes means for moving the jaws toward and away from one another, which in this instance comprises a hydraulic jack unit 28. The cylinder 29 of this unit is fixed as by bolts 30 to the jaw 22, whereas the piston rod 31 is slidable through the jaw 22 and fixed by means of the nut 33 to the other jaw 23. Suitable means may be provided for applying fluid under pressure to operate the jack 28 for moving the jaws toward and away from one another. This means, as here shown, may comprise a hand-operated hydraulic pump unit 34 mounted on one side of the cylinder 29 and operated by means of a lever 35.

With reference to FIG. 2, it would be seen that when it is desired to insert one of the expansion units 1 into the gap 4 at the expansion joint, the jaws 22 and 23 of the tool 1'7 are inserted into the sockets 20 in the plate members 11. The tool is then operated to move the jaws toward one another, thereby compressing the resilient body 10. This operation is continued until the unit is reduced in width sufficiently to be inserted into the gap 4 after which by means of the tool, the unit is positioned in the gap so that the spacer strip 16 previously positioned in the gap 4 serves to space the unit from the bottom of the gap. After this placement of the unit in the gap, the pressure on the unit, as affected by the tool, is relieved by appropriate operation of the tool, thereby permitting the unit to expand and urge the plates 11 into intimate contact with the side walls of the gap. Following this expansion, the tool readily may be removed without withdrawing the unit 1, due to the tensioned engagement of the plates 11 with the side walls of the gap 4.

It will now be apparent that the present invention embodies a novel, inexpensive and efficient method of installing resilient compressible units in expansion joints of structural members. This method includes the steps of compressing a resilient, compressible expansion unit with the aid of any suitable force applying means to facilitate insertion thereof into a space at an expansion joint of opposed structural members; inserting the compressed unit into the space between the structural members with the aid of the force-applying means; relieving the pressure on the unit by appropriate operation of the force-applying means to permit the unit to expand and forcibly engage opposite faces thereof with opposed surfaces of the structural members; and finally removing the force-applying means so as to leave the expanded unit in the desired position, to compensate for expansion, contraction and seismic loads at the joint.

It should also be noted that the resilient and compressible insert units of this invention are of simple, inexpensive and durable construction, making it possible to provide improved expansion joints of structural members at a low cost and which will compensate for expansion, contraction forces as well as seismic impact forces in a manner preventing damage or failure of the joints or the structural members. In case a unit becomes impaired and requires replacement, it may be readily and easily removed with the force-applying tool here shown and a new unit as readily inserted by use of this tool.

It is important to note that insert units embodying the present invention provide the desired cushioning effect for temperature effected and seismic loads to prevent damage of the structures between which the units are placed. Moreover, the units may be installed to advantage in the joints of structural members of building constructions other than reservoirs, as between vertical walls or structural members or between a horizontal structural member and a vertical structural member and in all instances are subject to being readily installed and replaced.

It should be understood that the insert units will be proportioned and spaced in accordance with the requirements of the particular joint. In being pre-compressed when applied, the units will exert the desired force to remain in proper position in the joint, subject however to expanding and contracting to meet widening or narrowing conditions at the joint. Regardless of the thermally effected conditions at the joint, the units will resist and absorb the impacts or shocks which may be induced as a result of sudden movement of the structures under seismic or other forces, thereby preventing damage or derangement at and adjacent the joint.

It will now be apparent that a joint unit embodying this invention makes it possible to provide at a joint of structural members, a predetermined elastic force, the magnitude of which can be controlled to a relatively high degree of accuracy, to handle a wide range of motions at the joint, and that the unit therefore serves, in effect, as a structural element which controls transmission of forces from one of the structural members to the other and improves the quality and adds to the safety of the associated structure.

We claim:

A building structure having walls forming a joint; said walls moving relatively responsive to expansion and contraction and seismic forces, and an expansion unit com pressed between said walls; said unit including a body of solid elastomeric material having opposed side faces; a rigid member engaging each of said side faces; each rigid member having an inner surface substantially coextensive with and bonded in face-to-face engagement with the adjacent side face of said body; each rigid member having an outer surface spaced outwardly from said inner surface; each of said rigid members having at least one recess therein, spaced outwardly of said inner surface, extending generally parallel thereto, and opening through an edge of said member and extending between said inner and outer surfaces; each of said rigid members comprising a pair of spaced-apart rigid plates, the mutually remote surfaces of said plates comprising said inner and outer surfaces; a plurality of spaced-apart spacers between said plates and rigidly secured thereto; said recess being defined by the space between said plates and adjacent spacers.

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